What is the Naturalization Process to Become a US Citizen?

Naturalization is the process by which a lawful permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen. You apply with Form N-400, attend a biometrics appointment, complete an interview that includes English and civics testing, and if approved, take the Oath of Allegiance. Most applicants qualify after five years as a green card holder, or three years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen.

What matters most in 2026 is that the process got harder. A new civics test took effect for applications filed on or after October 20, 2025, and USCIS tightened how it evaluates good moral character. Here is the current process, step by step.

Who Qualifies for Naturalization?

The core requirements come from Section 316 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, at 8 U.S.C. Section 1427. For most applicants, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have been a lawful permanent resident for five years, or three years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen
• Have continuous residence in the United States during that period
• Have been physically present for at least half the required period, meaning 30 months of the five years
• Have lived in the state or USCIS district where you file for at least three months
• Demonstrate good moral character
• Be able to read, write, and speak basic English
• Pass a civics test on U.S. history and government
• Be attached to the principles of the Constitution and willing to take the Oath of Allegiance

Watch the continuous residence rule carefully. A single trip abroad of six months or more can raise a presumption that you broke continuous residence, and an absence of a year or more generally breaks it outright.

The Steps in the Process

The path runs in a predictable order:

• File Form N-400. You may file up to 90 days before reaching your three-year or five-year anniversary as a permanent resident. Confirm the current fee on the USCIS Form N-400 page before filing, and note that USCIS stopped accepting checks and money orders in October 2025, so payment is electronic.
• Attend biometrics. USCIS collects fingerprints and runs background checks.
• Complete the interview. An officer reviews your application, tests your English, and administers the civics test.
• Receive a decision. Your application may be approved, continued for more evidence, or denied.
• Take the Oath of Allegiance. You become a citizen at the oath ceremony, not at approval, and you receive your Certificate of Naturalization there.

A fee waiver is available through Form I-912 for applicants who qualify based on income, and military applicants under certain provisions are exempt from the fee entirely.

The 2025 Civics Test: What Changed

This is the biggest practical change for new applicants. Which test you take depends on your filing date:

• Filed before October 20, 2025: the 2008 test, drawn from 100 questions, with 10 asked and 6 correct needed to pass
• Filed on or after October 20, 2025: the 2025 test, drawn from 128 questions, with 20 asked and 12 correct needed to pass

That is a meaningfully harder exam with a larger study pool and a higher passing bar. Study the correct question set for your filing date, since preparing from the wrong list is a common and avoidable mistake.

Certain applicants qualify for exemptions or accommodations based on age and years as a permanent resident, or for a medical disability exception using Form N-648.

Good Moral Character Is Now Evaluated More Broadly

In August 2025, USCIS revised how officers assess good moral character, moving to a totality of the circumstances approach. A clean criminal record alone may no longer be enough.

Officers now weigh negative and positive factors together. Negative factors can include:

• Criminal convictions, including some that are not obviously disqualifying
• Unfiled tax returns or unpaid taxes
• Unpaid child support obligations
• False claims to U.S. citizenship or unlawful voting

Positive factors can include stable employment, community involvement, family ties, and tax compliance. The practical takeaway is that applicants should consider documenting favorable evidence proactively, even where the form instructions do not require it.

USCIS also announced in August 2025 that it resumed personal neighborhood investigations of naturalization applicants, an older practice that had not been routinely used for years.

Common Problems That Delay or Derail an Application

Most naturalization denials are avoidable. The issues that cause the most trouble include:

• Trips abroad that broke continuous residence. Long absences are among the most frequent reasons applications fail, and the problem is often discovered only at the interview.
• Tax issues. Unfiled returns or an unresolved balance raise good moral character questions. Setting up a payment plan with the IRS and documenting it is far better than leaving it open.
• Unpaid child support. Arrears are treated seriously under the current standard, even without any criminal case.
• Old arrests the applicant did not disclose. Even charges that were dismissed or expunged generally must be disclosed, and failing to do so looks like concealment.
• Selective Service registration. Men who lived in the United States between ages 18 and 26 are generally expected to have registered, and a gap needs to be explained.
• Filing too early. Applying before you meet the residence or physical presence requirement results in a denial and a lost fee.

Reviewing these before you file is far easier than fixing them at the interview, and several of them take months to resolve.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does naturalization take in 2026?

Timelines vary by field office, but many applicants see an interview within roughly six to twelve months of filing. Processing times fluctuate, so check current estimates for your local office.

Can I apply before my five years are up?

Yes. The 90-day early filing rule lets you submit Form N-400 up to 90 days before reaching your three-year or five-year anniversary, as long as you meet the other requirements.

What happens if I fail the civics or English test?

You generally get a second opportunity, scheduled within a set period after the first interview. Failing both attempts results in a denial, and you would need to reapply.

Do unpaid taxes or child support affect my application?

They can. Both are weighed in the good moral character analysis, and under the current totality of the circumstances standard, unresolved obligations can matter even without a criminal conviction.

Talk to a Rock Hill Immigration Attorney About Your Citizenship Application

Naturalization rewards preparation, and the 2025 and 2026 changes raised the bar on both the test and the character review. At Okoye Law, our immigration team helps permanent residents across Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and South Carolina prepare complete, well-documented applications. Contact Okoye Law to talk through your eligibility before you file.